Telescoping outrigger systems

Abstract

A system to stabilize a construction vehicle having a frame and a pair of stabilizing legs with ground-engaging shoes at the ends of the legs. The stabilizing legs pivotally connect to the frame on substantially opposing sides, so that the stabilizing legs pivot upwards to a stowed position and pivot downwards to a stabilizing position where the shoe engages the ground. Further, the stabilizing legs telescope between a retracted position and an extended position. The retracted position locates the shoe closer to the vehicle and the extended position locates the shoe further from the vehicle. A pair of hydraulic cylinders connect to the respective stabilizing legs to power the telescopic movement of the stabilizing legs between the retracted position and extended position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A construction vehicle comprising: a system to stabilize the construction vehicle comprising:
 a frame to support the construction vehicle; 
 a pair of stabilizing legs having distal ends, with ground-engaging shoes disposed at the distal ends of the pair of stabilizing legs; 
 wherein the pair of stabilizing legs are pivotally connected to the frame on substantially opposing sides of the frame, such that the pair of stabilizing legs pivot upwards to a stowed position close to the construction vehicle and pivot downwards to a stabilizing position where the ground-engaging shoes engages the ground; 
 wherein the pair of stabilizing legs telescope between a retracted position and an extended position, whereby the retracted position locates the ground-engaging shoes closer to the construction vehicle and the extended position locates the ground-engaging shoes further from the construction vehicle; 
 a first pair of hydraulic cylinders connected to the pair of stabilizing legs to power a telescopic movement of the pair of stabilizing legs between the retracted position and the extended position; 
 a second pair of hydraulic cylinders to connect to the pair of stabilizing legs to power a pivoting movement of the pair of stabilizing legs between the stowed position and the stabilizing position; 
 a backhoe bucket, mounted on a stick and boom, pivotally attached to the frame, 
 wherein the pair of stabilizing legs are adapted to overcome the forces of the backhoe bucket scooping and swinging on the stick and boom during excavation; and 
 a controller, attached to the construction vehicle, to control the first air of hydraulic cylinders to extend one of the first pair of hydraulic cylinders and to retract the other of the first pair of hydraulic cylinders to shift the construction vehicle laterally between the ground-engaging shoes when the ground-engaging shoes are engaged with the ground, thereby allowing substantially lateral movement of the construction vehicle while the pair of stabilizing legs are in the stabilizing position. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1  wherein the controller is attached to the construction vehicle, to control the first pair of hydraulic cylinders by extending and retracting one of the first pair of hydraulic cylinders independently of the other of the first set of hydraulic cylinders. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a tractor mounted upon the frame to supply power to move the construction vehicle and to supply power to the first pair of hydraulic cylinders and the second pair of hydraulic cylinders. 
 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1  wherein
 the frame includes a right side and a left side, and wherein one of the pair of stabilizing legs is connected to the right side of the frame, and one of the ground-engaging shoes engages the ground on the right side of the frame. 
 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1  further comprising: a loader bucket, pivotally attached to the frame,
 wherein the loader bucket is adapted to pivot downwardly to engage the ground to assist the pair of stabilizing legs with overcoming the forces of the backhoe bucket scooping and swinging on the stick and boom during excavation. 
 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a tractor mounted upon the frame to supply power to move the construction vehicle and to supply power to the first pair of hydraulic cylinders and the second pair of hydraulic cylinders; and 
 a loader bucket, pivotally attached to the frame, wherein the loader bucket is adapted to pivot downwardly to engage the ground to assist the pair of stabilizing legs with overcoming the forces of the backhoe bucket scooping and swinging on the stick and boom during excavation. 
 
     
     
       7. A construction vehicle comprising: a system to stabilize the construction vehicle, which has a frame with a tractor mounted on the frame, comprising:
 a stabilizing leg with a ground-engaging shoe; 
 wherein the stabilizing leg is pivotally connected to the frame, such that the stabilizing leg pivots upwards to a stowed position and pivots downwards to a stabilizing position where the ground-engaging shoe engages the ground; 
 wherein the stabilizing leg telescopes between a retracted position and an extended position, whereby the retracted position locates the ground-engaging shoe closer to the frame and the extended position locates the ground-engaging shoe further from the frame; 
 a hydraulic cylinder connected to the stabilizing leg to power a telescopic movement of the stabilizing leg between the retracted position and the extended position; 
 a second hydraulic cylinder connected to the stabilizing leg to power a pivoting movement of the stabilizing leg between the stowed position and the stabilizing position; 
 a backhoe bucket, mounted on a stick and boom, pivotally attached to the frame, wherein the stabilizing leg is adapted to overcome the forces of the backhoe bucket scooping and swinging on the stick and boom during excavation; and 
 a controller, attached to the construction vehicle, to control the hydraulic cylinder to extend and to retract the ground-engaging shoe, 
 wherein the system is configured to shift the construction vehicle laterally towards the ground-engaging shoe, when the ground-engaging shoe is engaged with the ground, thereby allowing substantially lateral movement of the construction vehicle while the stabilizing leg is in the stabilizing position. 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7  further comprising: a second controller, attached to the construction vehicle, to control the second hydraulic cylinder to stow and to stabilize the stabilizing leg. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 7  further comprising: the stabilizing legs is connected to the same side of the frame as the ground-engaging shoe engages the ground. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9  further comprising: a loader bucket, pivotally attached to the frame, wherein the loader bucket is adapted to pivot downwardly to engage the ground to assist the stabilizing leg with overcoming the forces of the backhoe bucket scooping and swinging on the stick and boom during excavation. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 7  wherein
 the controller is attached to the construction vehicle, to control the hydraulic cylinder to extend and to retract the ground-engaging shoe; 
 a second controller, attached to the construction vehicle, to control the second hydraulic cylinder to stow and to stabilize the stabilizing leg; and 
 a loader bucket, pivotally attached to the frame, wherein the loader bucket is adapted to pivot downwardly to engage the ground to assist the stabilizing leg with overcoming the forces of the backhoe bucket scooping and swinging on the stick and boom during excavation. 
 
     
     
       12. A kit, to retrofit a construction vehicle with a frame and an existing hydraulic circuit for existing stabilizing legs, comprising:
 a pair of replacement stabilizing legs having distal ends, wherein the pair of replacement stabilizing legs are adapted to connect to ground-engaging shoes disposed at the distal ends of the pair of replacement stabilizing legs; 
 wherein the pair of replacement stabilizing legs are configured and arranged to pivotally connect to the frame on substantially opposing sides of the frame, such that the pair of replacement stabilizing legs pivot upwards to a stowed position close to the construction vehicle and pivot downwards to a stabilizing position where the ground-engaging shoes engage the ground; 
 wherein the pair of replacement stabilizing legs telescope between a retracted position and an extended position, whereby the retracted position locates the ground-engaging shoes closer to the construction vehicle and the extended position locates the ground-engaging shoes further from the construction vehicle; 
 a pair of hydraulic cylinders connected to the pair of replacement stabilizing legs to power a telescopic movement of the pair of replacement stabilizing legs between the retracted position and the extended position; 
 a second pair of hydraulic cylinders to connect to the pair of replacement stabilizing legs to power a pivoting movement of the pair of replacement stabilizing legs between the stowed position and the stabilizing position; 
 a diverter valve to divert hydraulic fluid from the existing hydraulic circuit to the pair of hydraulic cylinders; and 
 a controller to control the flow of hydraulic fluid between the existing hydraulic circuit and the diverter valve to control the pair of hydraulic cylinders to extend one of the pair of hydraulic cylinders and to retract the other of the pair of hydraulic cylinders to shift the construction vehicle laterally between the ground-engaging shoes when the ground-engaging shoes are engaged with the ground, thereby allowing substantially lateral movement of the construction vehicle while the pair of replacement stabilizing legs are in the stabilizing position. 
 
     
     
       13. The kit of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a manual to provide instruction to operate the telescopic movement of the pair of replacement stabilizing legs using the controller. 
 
     
     
       14. The kit of  claim 12  further comprising:
 an instruction manual to provide instruction to attach the pair of replacement stabilizing legs to the construction vehicle and to provide instruction to connect the diverter valve to the existing hydraulic circuit. 
 
     
     
       15. The kit of  claim 12  further comprising:
 an instruction manual to provide instruction to attach the pair of replacement stabilizing legs to the construction vehicle and to provide instruction to connect the diverter valve and the controller to the existing hydraulic circuit. 
 
     
     
       16. A method of operating a construction vehicle, the construction vehicle comprising:
 a frame to support the construction vehicle; 
 a first stabilizing leg, with a first ground-engaging shoe disposed at a distal end of the first stabilizing leg; 
 a second stabilizing leg, with a second ground-engaging shoe disposed at a distal end of the second stabilizing leg; 
 wherein the first stabilizing leg and the second stabilizing leg telescope between a retracted position and an extended position; 
 a first hydraulic cylinder connected to the first stabilizing leg to power a telescopic movement of the first stabilizing leg between the retracted position and the extended position; 
 a second hydraulic cylinder connected to the second stabilizing leg to power a telescopic movement of the second stabilizing leg between the retracted position and the extended position; 
 a backhoe bucket, mounted on a stick and boom, pivotally attached to the frame, and a controller, attached to the construction vehicle, to control the first hydraulic cylinder and second hydraulic cylinders; 
 
       the method of operating the construction vehicle comprising;
 Operating, through the controller, the first hydraulic cylinder to position the first stabilizing leg at least partially into the retracted position; 
 Engaging the first ground-engaging shoe onto the ground with the first stabilizing leg at least partially retracted; 
 Engaging the second ground-engaging shoe onto the ground with the second stabilizing leg at least partially in the extended position; 
 Retracting, through the controller, the second stabilizing leg while the second ground-engaging shoe remains engaged with the ground; and 
 Extending, through the controller, the first stabilizing leg while the first ground-engaging shoe remains engaged with the ground to laterally move the frame. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of operating the construction vehicle according to  claim 16 , wherein the step of engaging the first ground-engaging shoe onto the ground includes positioning the frame of the construction vehicle adjacent to a ditch having a first side and a second side, engaging the first ground-engaging shoe on the first side of the ditch where the frame of the construction vehicle is on the first side of the ditch; and wherein the step of engaging the second ground-engaging shoe onto the ground includes engaging the second ground-engaging shoe adjacent to the ditch on the second side of the ditch.